Archive By Section - News
No hearing scheduled in Ney murder case
The Kansas Attorney General's Office is handling two first-degree murder cases from 2010 in Barton County District Court. But while the capital murder case against Adam Joseph Longoria continues to grab headlines, less is known about the first-degree murder case against Shawn Ney. Both cases are in pre-trial stages. Longoria is charged with murdering 14-year-old Alicia DeBolt on or about Aug. 21, 2010, after attempting to rape her. ...
Local gas prices below state average
When looking at gas prices statewide, Great Bend falls about in the middle of the pack, according to the gasoline price website KansasGasPrices.com.
Hoisington lifts water emergency declaration
The city of Hoisington has lifted the water emergency at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon that had been declared earlier in the day.
County to apply for state road grants
Barton County was able to make important improvements to a vital north-south rural road with the help of state transportation funding, and now it will attempt to do so again.
Jobless rate posts tepid gain
Continuing a modest fluctuation, the July unemployment rate in Kansas rose to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent in June, but was down from 7.0 percent in July a year ago, the Kansas Department of Labor reported Thursday.
‘MAKE ME A RAINBOW’
"Love u." "Love and miss you." "We love you sweet babygirl." "A big hug for you from mom." These were among the balloon-borne messages lofted into the golden dusk sky above Great Bend Cemetery North Sunday night. It was an evening filled with hugs, tears and laughter as family and friends of the slain Alicia DeBolt marked the first anniversary of the 14-year-old's disappearance. "Look upon us with favor as we remember the life and ...
City extends airport FBO for five years
The deal that the city of Great Bend has with its airport operations team is good enough that Airport Manager Martin Miller wanted to see the deal extended. And the Great Bend City Council agreed with him, approving a five year agreement with Centerline Aviation to operate as the Fixed Base Operator for Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Hoisington celebrates 115th annual Labor Day
HOISINGTON - For 115 years and with the theme of "There's No Place Like Home," Hoisington will once again celebrate Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-5 with a full round of activities. The city of Hoisington is also celebrating its 125th birthday.
Park has gone to the dogs
Friends of the four-footed variety cooled off, swam, played on the grass and chased balls at the 2nd annual Bark in the Water Park at the Great Bend Aquatic Center. With tails wagging and perked ears, their joy was evident with their day of sunbathing and swimming. The pool has already been closed to humans, but dogs were allowed prior to its draining. Organizer Mindy Hickel expected 140-150 dogs to show up ...
Alicia DeBolt case time line
• DeBolt leaves her house at 910 Stone St. in Great Bend at about 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010, to go to a party with a 19-year-old male friend.
Court clerk explains how juries are chosen
Jury selection in Barton County starts with a list of driver license records from the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, consisting of regular and commercial license holders in local zip codes. Mary Gaston, Clerk of the District Court of Barton County, explains this procedure is outlined by state law. Gaston's explanation of how juries are selected was released at the request of attorneys defending Adam Longoria. Motions and ...
One year after death Alicia DeBolt’s death, family sends message
One year after the death of Alicia DeBolt, family members are planning to honor the memory of the Great Bend teenager by releasing message-laden balloons. Sunday marks the anniversary of the night Alicia disappeared, just days before she was scheduled to start her freshman year at Great Bend High School. Her sister, Dawn DeBolt, has posted a message on the Great Bend Tribune's Facebook page, inviting the public to ...
City seeks an emergency ATV grant
Barton County may seem a lot tamer than the wilderness areas of the Rocky Mountains, but it still has recreation areas where people can get hurt and where it can be difficult for emergency personnel to reach, and that is why Great Bend city departments are seeking grant help to purchase equipment that will help in those instances.
BCC faculty and staff exhibit art at Shafer Gallery
Barton Community College employees will have the opportunity to walk a mile in the shoes of a professional artist at the opening reception for the BCC Faculty and Staff Exhibition at the Shafer Gallery from 1-3 p.m. Sunday. Musical ambience will be performed by Karole Erikson as a part of the Robert Keenan Memorial Music Series.
BCC trustees approve new hires; meet with foundation president
The hiring of Barton Community College's head women's basketball coach became official Thursday when the college's Board of Trustees approved new employees. Darin Spence has been on the job for several days, and BCC Athletic Director Trevor Rolfs acknowledged the appointment two weeks ago, "pending board approval on Aug. 18." It isn't unusual for new employees at the college to start getting organized before their contract is approved. Barton President ...
Articles by Section - News
31st-annual Camp Hope happening this Week
Children with cancer want to do all the fun things that healthy children do – exploring the outdoors, swimming, hiking, fishing, playing games, singing around the campfire, creating arts and crafts, playing ball, and more.
Wheat harvest gearing up throughout area
What a difference a year makes. This time last year, Barton County farmers were wrapping up the 2012 wheat harvest, and everyone, farmers and non-farmers alike, were praying for rain.
Be Well Barton County receives grant from KHI’s Healthy Communities Initiative
Be Well Barton County, a advisory group dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles countywide, has been awarded an implementation grant through the Kansas Health Foundation's Healthy Communities Initiative worth up to $75,000 over the next three years. Be Well, one of 12 grantees in the state to receive this funding, will use the funds in support Complete streets and Safe Routes to school, nationally recognized programs that encourage local governments to consider bicycle and pedestrian traffic ...
June Jaunt ‘huge success’
Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes could hardly contain herself when she addressed the Great Bend City Council Monday night about the recent June Jaunt.
Vernon gives drop-out report
At the regular school board meeting in June, Superintendent Tom Vernon presented his annual report on drop-outs, something he's been doing since 2007. Back in 2008, 30 students dropped out, but the numbers went down in 2008 through 2010. In 2011, the numbers began to rise again, with 38 and 39 students dropping out in the 2011 and 2012 school years.
Oil well proposed inside Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands
An oil well could be drilled 870 feet inside the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands if a permit requested by H&C Oil Operating Inc., of Plainville is granted.
County seeks gun ban extension
A lot of questions swirl around the recently passed revised state statute that would allow concealed weapons in public buildings. Those questions lead the Barton County Commission Monday morning to approve submitting a letter to Attorney General's Office requesting a six-month exemption from the law.
Grant to revamp scenic overlook
Barton County was selected for a Kansas Department of Transportation grant to enhance the Wetlands and Wildlife National Scenic Byway scenic overlook on K-4 east of Hoisington, the County Commission learned Monday morning.
Commission honors county youth
The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved a proclamation honoring Ellinwood and Great Bend high school students in the Future Business Leaders of America Career and Technical Education Student Organization.
$80,000 loss, hay bales burn
At around 2:30 p.m., the Great Bend Fire Department was called away from the Pawnee Rock fire to a hay bale fire at 251 NW 10th Ave. adjacent to Mid America Feeders. Five hundred large-sized hay bales with an estimated value of $80,000 were on fire, according to Great Bend Fire Chief Mike Napolitano. They were continuing to burn Saturday morning. "It's nearly impossible to put the fire out because the bales burn so deep within," he said.
Overrun with Color
If the turnout at the Great Bend Regional Hospital race pavilion Saturday morning is any indicator, color makes running more fun. Excitement over being doused with paint brought out more than 500 participants for the first ever Color Run. The event happened in conjunction with the third annual Human eMotion Charitable Run, Walk and Ride event sponsored by GBRH, with all proceeds going to support the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend.
Dannebohm apprehended Friday in Great Bend
At approximately 11 a.m. Friday morning, Great Bend Police apprehended Brandon Dannebohm. The fugitive was found sleeping in a vehicle within the city limits of Great Bend, according to Barton County Undersheriff Bruce Green He was arrested and is being held on a no-bond warrant from Stafford County. Barton County charges are pending for aggravated endangerment of a child, abandonment of a child, possession of narcotics, and other charges.
Toxic blue-green algae bloom affecting Veterans Lake
OPEKA– The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued Public Health Warnings for Marion Reservoir, Marion County; and Memorial Park Lake (a.k.a. Veterans Lake), Great Bend due to toxic blue-green algae populations above minimum public safety levels. Logan City Lake in Phillips County remains on the warning list, bringing the total to three so far in 2013.
FROM TUMULT TO SUCCESS
As Bob Feldt took his seat at the Barton Community College Board of Trustees table for the last time Thursday afternoon, fellow trustee Don Learned came over to him and shook his hand.
